Test Bank Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology 5th
Edition
Essential Psychopharmacology 5th Edition
,Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology
Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications
TESTBANK/STUDY GUIDE
Chapter 1 Chemical neurotransmission
MULTIPLE CHOICE
A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a
chemical disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the
theory that depression primarily involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
a. Cortisol and GABA
b. COMT and glutamate
c. Monamine and glycine
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine
ANS: D
One possible cause of depression is thought to involve one or more neurotransmitters.Serotonin and
norepinephrine have been found to be important in the regulation of depression. There is no research
to support that the other options play a significant role in the development of depression.
A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted in
damage to the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce
this diagnosis?
a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon
b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both hands
ANS: B
Accidents or strokes that damage Brocas area may result in the inability to speak (i.e.,motor aphasia).
Fine motor skills, blood pressure control, and muscle strength are notcontrolled by the Broca area of
the left frontal lobe.
The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are
always prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information
that the therapeutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications
,ANS: C
Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic cleftand have
action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of schizophrenia, on dopamine. The
Wernickes area, dendrite function, or the sensitivity of the peripheral nervous system are not relevant
to either schizophrenia or psychotropic medications.
A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with
understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor
would base a response on the understanding that it is:
Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on
a. behavioral interventions
A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently
b. use in their practice
Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain
c. traumacaused cognitive symptoms
Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those
d. experiencing psychiatric disorders
ANS: D
Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a neurologic basis,
although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This understanding facilitates effective care
planning. The foundation of knowledge is notused exclusively by advanced practice psychiatric nurses
nor is it relevant for only behavior therapies or brain trauma since dealing with the results of normal
and abnormal brain function is a responsibility of all nurses providing all types of care tothe psychiatric
patient.
A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her
chronic depression? Which response is supported by research data?
a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the
body
ANS: C
Research indicates that stress causes a release of corticotropin-releasing factors that suppress the
immune system. Studies indicate that psychiatric disorders such as mooddisorders are sometimes
associated with decreased functioning of the immune system.Research does not support a connection
between many cancers and stress. There is a significant amount of research about stress and the
body. Research has shown that there are some connections between stress and physical disease.
, A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric
rehabilitation needs. Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse
identify as a focus of nursing intervention?
a. Expression of emotion
b. Detecting auditory stimuli
c. Receiving visual images
d. Processing associations
ANS: D
The parietal lobe is responsible for associating and processing sensory information that allows for
functions such as following directions on a map, reading a clock, dressing self, keeping appointments,
and distinguishing right from left. Emotional expression is associated with frontal lobe function.
Detecting auditory stimuli is a temporal lobe function. Receiving visual images is related to occipital
lobe function.
At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in the
right cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the
patient:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own hair
ANS: B
The cerebral hemispheres are responsible for functions such as control of muscles. The right
hemisphere mainly controls the motor and sensory functions on the left sideof the body. Damage to
the right side would result in impaired function on the left side of the body. The motor cortex controls
voluntary motor activity. Brocas area controls motor speech. Cognitive functions are attributed to the
association cortex.
The right side of the bodys motor activity is controlled by the left cerebral cortex.
A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The
patient will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to
individualize the patients medication teaching by:
a. Including the patients caregiver in the education
b. Being careful to stress the importance of taking the medication as
prescribed
Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and
c. relaxed
Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with
d. swallowing
ANS: A
Edition
Essential Psychopharmacology 5th Edition
,Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology
Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications
TESTBANK/STUDY GUIDE
Chapter 1 Chemical neurotransmission
MULTIPLE CHOICE
A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a
chemical disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the
theory that depression primarily involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
a. Cortisol and GABA
b. COMT and glutamate
c. Monamine and glycine
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine
ANS: D
One possible cause of depression is thought to involve one or more neurotransmitters.Serotonin and
norepinephrine have been found to be important in the regulation of depression. There is no research
to support that the other options play a significant role in the development of depression.
A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted in
damage to the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce
this diagnosis?
a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon
b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both hands
ANS: B
Accidents or strokes that damage Brocas area may result in the inability to speak (i.e.,motor aphasia).
Fine motor skills, blood pressure control, and muscle strength are notcontrolled by the Broca area of
the left frontal lobe.
The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are
always prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information
that the therapeutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications
,ANS: C
Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic cleftand have
action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of schizophrenia, on dopamine. The
Wernickes area, dendrite function, or the sensitivity of the peripheral nervous system are not relevant
to either schizophrenia or psychotropic medications.
A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with
understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor
would base a response on the understanding that it is:
Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on
a. behavioral interventions
A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently
b. use in their practice
Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain
c. traumacaused cognitive symptoms
Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those
d. experiencing psychiatric disorders
ANS: D
Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a neurologic basis,
although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This understanding facilitates effective care
planning. The foundation of knowledge is notused exclusively by advanced practice psychiatric nurses
nor is it relevant for only behavior therapies or brain trauma since dealing with the results of normal
and abnormal brain function is a responsibility of all nurses providing all types of care tothe psychiatric
patient.
A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her
chronic depression? Which response is supported by research data?
a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the
body
ANS: C
Research indicates that stress causes a release of corticotropin-releasing factors that suppress the
immune system. Studies indicate that psychiatric disorders such as mooddisorders are sometimes
associated with decreased functioning of the immune system.Research does not support a connection
between many cancers and stress. There is a significant amount of research about stress and the
body. Research has shown that there are some connections between stress and physical disease.
, A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric
rehabilitation needs. Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse
identify as a focus of nursing intervention?
a. Expression of emotion
b. Detecting auditory stimuli
c. Receiving visual images
d. Processing associations
ANS: D
The parietal lobe is responsible for associating and processing sensory information that allows for
functions such as following directions on a map, reading a clock, dressing self, keeping appointments,
and distinguishing right from left. Emotional expression is associated with frontal lobe function.
Detecting auditory stimuli is a temporal lobe function. Receiving visual images is related to occipital
lobe function.
At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in the
right cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the
patient:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own hair
ANS: B
The cerebral hemispheres are responsible for functions such as control of muscles. The right
hemisphere mainly controls the motor and sensory functions on the left sideof the body. Damage to
the right side would result in impaired function on the left side of the body. The motor cortex controls
voluntary motor activity. Brocas area controls motor speech. Cognitive functions are attributed to the
association cortex.
The right side of the bodys motor activity is controlled by the left cerebral cortex.
A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The
patient will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to
individualize the patients medication teaching by:
a. Including the patients caregiver in the education
b. Being careful to stress the importance of taking the medication as
prescribed
Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and
c. relaxed
Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with
d. swallowing
ANS: A
